The Blindman River Watershed

The Blindman River flows south from southwest of Winfield, Alberta, approximately 155 km downstream to the Red Deer River, near Blackfalds, Alberta. Its tributaries include Anderson Creek, Boyd Creek, Lloyd Creek, and Potter Creek.

The Blindman River Watershed encompasses almost 3,000 km², including the counties of Lacombe, Ponoka, Red Deer and Wetaskiwin.

The Blindman River is an important water supply for households, wildlife, agriculture, energy, and recreation.

About the Friends of the Blindman

Vision:

A healthy Blindman River watershed supported by an informed and engaged community.

Mission:

Advocate for better protections and management of our watershed’s ecosystems and groundwater resources through monitoring, education and outreach.

Policy Recommendations:

• Advocate for better protections for rivers (options may include new intstream flow objectives, water conservation objectives or alternatives, such as crown reservations, water conservation licences, water trusts, etc).
  
• No freshwater for hydraulic fracturing in water-short and potentially water-short areas
  • Phased in over several years; and
  • Could begin immediately by moving large projects in potentially water-short areas into Tier 4 (Manual 25)
    
• Stricter rules around temporary water division licences (TDLs) so companies can not use them to avoid a term licence
  • TDLs for hydraulic fracturing need to fall under Manual 25, or equivalent;
  • A maximum volume per licence, per year, per project;
  • No TDLs from shallow, non saline groundwater; and
  • Failing the above, no TDLs for hydraulic fracturing.
    
• More transparent application and approvals process for TDLs:
  • The source and requested volume for diversion should be listed on the Public Notice of Application page, or the application should be available to view, without requesting it from the licence applicant.
  • As there is only a 30 day window to submit a Statement of Concern, an email contact should be required to request a copy of the application and submit a statement of concern. (Currently, many applications only have a mailing address to request an application.)
    
• Advocate for single licenser for all freshwater licences (should only Alberta Environment and Protected Areas)
  
• Public reporting of water use.
  
• Improved groundwater monitoring.